FOURTEENTH EXHIBITION OP COLONIAL-GROWN FRUITS. CCxli 



window -boxes in the East End of London has been one of the con- 

 spicuous features of the last few years ; and I think we may say that 

 from the manor house in the country to the window-gardening of 

 East London the advance is everywhere self-evident, and to a very 

 great extent it is due to this grand old Society. I propose the toast 

 of "Prosperity to the Eoyal Horticultural Society," long may it 

 flourish, root and branch. 



His Excellency Sir Everard im Thurn : Sir Albert Eollit and 

 Gentlemen, — I am very grateful for the unexpected honour given me 

 of expressing the thanks of my fellow-members and myself for the kind 

 and encouraging words that have fallen from his worship the Mayor. 

 I am a little surprised at the duty of responding being committed to 

 my charge, because for a great many years I have been abroad, chiefly 

 in the Colonies, and I have very seldom been able to do any service at 

 all for the Society ; but I think that was 'perhaps the reason why our 

 Secretary specially fixed upon me, because he knew that I had seen 

 the working of the Society from, a distance as' well as being a Fellow of 

 it myself. I have thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the Journal 

 of the Society in those distant lands where my lot has been chiefly cast. 

 I also know that the Society has done immense service, not only to 

 horticulture here in England, but by the help it has given to many 

 distant Colonies; so that I, possibly more than most of the Fellows 

 of the Society, may accept the cornpliments paid to the Society with 

 greater modesty than those who have been working hard with it at home. 

 I thank the Mayor for his kind wishes for the Society, and I would 

 also like to thank all the other non-members of the Society who have 

 spoken either here or down below to-day. 



Sir Thomas Elliott (Board of Agriculture) : Gentlemen, — I have 

 no desire to speak, except to Say that I have been extremely gratified 

 by the speeches we have heard to-day; and, I would add, that as an 

 official representative of agriculture and also of horticulture it is 

 always a pleasure to me to come in contact with the Council and 

 Oflicers of the Eoyal Horticultural Society. On all the hoardings at 

 the present time I see appeals to us to think Imperially. I think the 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society thinks Imperially. I have a sort of idea 

 that the Society did go to sleep once, but during the last twenty-five 

 years they have been waking — -they have wakened up. I also want 

 to say this: I come into contact with a vast number of horticulturists, 

 and I always expect to be asked. What can the Board of Agriculture 

 do for horticulture? but I am bound to say that I hear very little in 

 that direction, because the B.H.S. is doing for horticulture much 

 better things, in my judgment, than any Government Department can 

 possibly do; and so long as the E.H.S. is doing its present work, 

 there is not much room for the Board of Agriculture to step in. We 

 have had some little experience in diseases of potatos and fruit trees ; 

 but you know what kind of reception growers give to inspectors of a 

 Government Department. Our fellow-citizens in British Columbia 

 should exercise great care; a great deal of educational work has to be 



